SBLII: Patriots Injury News
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I was listening to a Patriots postgame podcast with Jim Murray, Paul Perillo, and Andy Hart. Not too familiar with their reputations in Boston (I live in CT and I don't keep up with many on the Pats beat outside of Reiss and Curran), but anyways they spent a few minutes clamoring about the chance that Hightower may be able to come off IR for the playoffs. Outside of the fact the I doubt he could be effective given the prognosis for his type of surgery, but is that even a option the Pats have given the IR rules? I was under the assumption DH was done, and we could only bring back either Malcolm Mitchell or Valentine. I'd be pleasantly surprised if they were right and he were eligible to return, but I haven't seen any mention of that around here.
I think since Mitchell came back to practice he is their second to return from IR and that officially rules out DH.
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If DH was ready he’d have been able to come off IR as he’s been on long enough. But McClellin and Mitchell used both spots.
I haven't seen anything about Van Noy's status. Is he expected to be ready for the playoffs?
He was close to playing last week. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just sit him on Sunday and let him get 2 more weeks to fully heal. Same with Chris Hogan. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see others who are banged up sit this week too. They should beat the Jets with a B squad.
I was beaten to the answer. I'm a little surprised that Hart and Perillo -- who I would describe as workmanlike, likable and knowledgeable, but ultimately bland and handcuffed somewhat by the fact that they are company men -- would have been so off. Perhaps they were discussing that before it was known that Mitchell was off IR or was going to be soon taken off IR.
As to Bleedred's question on Van Noy, I don't think there have been any definitive reports or even much speculation. Then again, we rarely know more than that a player is out for a given game, and that's either after they have not practiced all week or the Pats announce it.
No but anybody who is questionable to play and could use a game off they should do it.
The Xbox one postgame show is the one being referenced, and it’s recorded immediately upon the end of the game, so it was before Mitchell first made an appearance at Wednesday’s practice.
I really don’t think there was anything odd or misinformed here. Andy Hart has been saying that until someone else was announced for the remaining DTR spot, he would hold out hope that it would be Hightower, since that clearly would have the biggest impact. Perillo commented several times that he thought it unlikely given the injury and its treatment. And that’s where they left it.
And remember, there had been essentially zero indication that Mitchell was coming back prior to yesterday (except for some cryptic social media post by Mitchell a couple of weeks ago that invited some brief speculation).
Really, there’s not much to see here. The PFW guys were completely correct that Hightower was eligible to return due to his >=8 week tenure on IR, and they (mostly Hart) put it down as a wish without ever saying it was likely.
As noted, their discussion occurred during the post game show, before Mitchell had returned to practice. HOWEVER, much more importantly, a correction: The very last thing Andy and Paul are is bland, and the very last thing PFW IN PROGRESS is is a "company man" kind of show.
In fact, I'd say that this podcast, and the pre- and post-game shows, are among the least fawning and most objective, and in-no-way bland broadcasts you'll find in New England. It's a credit to the Krafts and the entire organization that their media arm is as independent as it is. The Patriots talk they engage in, along with Fred and Erik, is as unvarnished and critical as any I've heard. Which is not to say it's constantly negative, it isn't, and why would it be? I highly recommend it to anyone looking for balanced, compelling, often funny sports talk.
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Interesting. I've only heard each of them outside that podcast and found them to be very down the middle, unmemorable and like I said, bland. But I will take a listen. Looking forward to unvarnished and critical.
I know what you're talking about, but I'm with MWOB here--they (Hart and Perillo, mostly, though Scalavino contributes a little) are pretty good at sussing out what is going on with personnel and what BB is trying to do and, in general, are more informative than any other source I can think of. They also don't do hot or poorly thought-out takes, and they are very frank about the limits of their knowledge.
What they don't do is translate well to normal radio, whicb is a shame. I would really check out the PFW in Progress podcast (and the pre and post-game shows they do) to get a sense of how they operate.
Schefter: Patriots’ RB James White, listed as questionable for today with an ankle injury, is not expected to play, per league source. Patriots RB Rex Burkhead (knee), RB Mike Gillislee (knee) also are out.
Who was the guy, a FB I think, who spent most of the year on the practice squad only to be activated for the last game and get about a dozen carries. Might have even been cut the next week
He started and ended up playing just 20% of snaps (12 total). For comparison, he's played 100% of snaps 5 times this year, and 80% or more in every game prior to getting hurt against Buffalo.
We really have no idea. He played in that one game a few weeks back then missed a few in a row.
Give this as much or little credence as you’d like, but I figure it’s at least worth sharing: the same source on Hogan that said he’d be out 4-6 weeks says he’ll be ready for the playoffs.
I have mentioned it in other places, but it seems like playing Hogan in Miami was a direct result of the Gronk suspension, and it seems dumb.
Yes, to answer your question unless he has a setback I’d expect him to play in the Divisional Round.
He was a limited participant in practice leading up to the Jets game and was listed as Questionable last Friday, unlike Branch and Burkhead who were immediately ruled Out. All of that points to him working his way back with an eye toward playing in 2 weeks.
Apparently, Hogan was one of the practice players of the week as well. I'd say that chances are pretty good that he plays next weekend.
Tweet text for those on mobile: @patriots: "Practice players of the week: WR Chris Hogan, TE Will Tye, OL Cole Croston, OL LaAdrian Waddle, DL Ricky Jean Francois, DB David Jones."
edit: I didn't look 1 god damn post ahead
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Pretty much what it sounds like. The only specifics I can recall have been where Belichick specifically mentions scout team work.
Burkhead and Branch are back practicing today as well as Trevor Reilly. Only players absent are Gillislee and Eric Lee.
According to Pats website he did:
12/26 James Harrison Free Agent Signing (free agent signing).
Trevor Reilly Waived, No Recall (waived, no recall).
I'd be more convinced of this if you could find a link (beyond your own musings) to someone with a bit more inside info that agreed with your premise
Timeline:
- injured in week 8 win vs. Chargers
- returns exactly 6 weeks later in week 14 loss at Miami (original timeline speculated was 4-6 weeks)
- does not play weeks 15-17
So this raises three questions IMO:
1) Was he fully healthy when he returned vs. Miami?
2) Would he have dressed had Gronk not been suspended?
3) Did he re-injure the shoulder against Miami, suffer a new injury, or neither - did he only play because Gronk didn't, even though he wasn't 100%?
You are correct, this is mostly my musing. Would be great to get some sort of answer to this.
Edit: in BB I trust. Of course. It just seems like they didn't play this one optimally.
Double edit: Reiss just tweeted this:
So logically I would guess that he either aggravated it during the game, or possibly in practice after.
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The practice players of the week are often recognized for their work in simulating an opponent's playbook in practice. So, when Brian Hoyer (among many others) was given the award after week 15, it was likely due to him playing the part of Tyrod Taylor in practice that week.
I seem to remember Belichick praising one of the back-up quarterbacks for how good of a job he did in simulating Peyton Manning in practice. This would have been years and years ago after the Patriots beat the Colts in the playoffs
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